Hours before puck drop in Florida's first NHL outdoor game, the Panthers and Rangers arrived in style for the 2026 Winter Classic at loanDepot Park. Two-time defending champs Florida aim to build on recent form against slumping New York, with pre-game fan events, Tom Brady's appearance, and charity auctions adding buzz under mild evening skies.
The Discover NHL Winter Classic pits the Panthers against the Rangers at 8 p.m. ET on Jan. 2 at Miami Marlins' loanDepot Park, with the retractable roof open. Building on earlier previews of the rink setup and Florida's hockey rise, today's updates highlight team momentum and game-day excitement.
Panthers (21-15-3, fifth in Atlantic) enter on a 6-3-1 run in their last 10 despite a recent OT loss to Montreal. Brad Marchand paces with 45 points (23G-22A) on a nine-game streak; Sam Reinhart has 43 (22G-21A). Injuries sideline Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk; Sergei Bobrovsky (17 wins) eyes his second outdoor start.
Rangers (19-18-5, seventh in Metropolitan) have dropped three straight and nine of 13. Artemi Panarin leads with 41 points (14G-27A), Mika Zibanejad 30, Adam Fox 28. J.T. Miller is out injured; Igor Shesterkin (.910 SV% in 32 GP) opposes Bobrovsky. New York boasts a 5-0 outdoor record vs. Florida's debut.
Arrivals sparked hype: Rangers in Miami Vice gear around 4:45 p.m., Panthers in sports cars at 5:15 p.m., hosted by NHL alum Jason Demers with music and mascots. Tom Brady posed with the Stanley Cup, donning a custom No. 12 Panthers jersey.
GM Bill Zito unveiled 'Panthers on the Prowl' sculptures for Charitybuzz auction benefiting cancer research ($700K raised toward $1M; artists include Wayne Gretzky, Martina Navratilova). Clear skies at 64°F dropping to 61°F expected. Rangers coach Mike Sullivan lauded ice conditions; Marchand noted elevated excitement.
Broadcast on TNT, truTV, HBO Max. Recent U.S. Olympic rosters feature Rangers' Vincent Trocheck, Panthers' Seth Jones; Sullivan coaches Team USA.
